Despite being heavily affected by the coronavirus crisis, Canadian immigration is bolstered by the fact that many provinces continue to process immigration applications and hold regular draws, with special immigration measures in place.

The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) issued 226 new invitations to apply for a nomination for Canadian permanent residence in a draw held March 26.

The MPNP is part of Canada’s Provincial Nominee Program and allows Manitoba to nominate a set number of economic immigration candidates each year through a variety of streams designed to address specific labour market needs in the province.

The March 26 MPNP draw invited 226 candidates from the MPNP’s Skilled Workers in Manitoba,  International Education and Skilled Workers Overseas streams.

Those invitations broke down as follows:

• Skilled Workers in Manitoba: 168
• International Education Stream: 20
• Skilled Workers Overseas: 38

Of the 226 Letters of Advice to Apply issued in this draw, 29 went to Express Entry candidates. Candidates with a provincial nomination will receive an additional 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points and are effectively guaranteed an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence in a subsequent federal Express Entry draw.

The lowest score drawn in the March 26 draw was 496 for Skilled Workers in Manitoba and 714 for Skilled Workers Overseas candidates.

The March 26 invitations bring the total issued by the MPNP through these streams so far this year to 1,523.